Doorbell communities

Abstract

Doorbells can send data to each other to enable a first doorbell user to warn a second doorbell user regarding a suspicious visitor. A first user can indicate a first trait of a visitor via a first remote computing device. The first user can create a user group to enable the members of the user group to use their doorbells to take pictures of suspicious visitors and to send the pictures of the suspicious visitors to other members of the user group.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises a software application configured to run on a first remote computing device communicatively coupled to a first doorbell having a housing, a motion detector, a proximity sensor, a microphone, a speaker, a button, and a first camera, the method comprising:
 displaying a map, via the software application on the first remote computing device, wherein the map displays a first location of the first doorbell and a second location of a second doorbell; 
 receiving a selection by a user of a map icon representing the second doorbell; 
 displaying information regarding the second doorbell, via the software application on the first remote computing device, in response to receiving the selection by the user of the map icon representing the second doorbell while the map icon is displayed via the software application on the first remote computing device; 
 sending a wireless communication to a second remote computing device in response to receiving the selection by the user of the map icon representing the second doorbell via the software application on the first remote computing device, the wireless communication comprising an invitation to an owner of the second doorbell to a doorbell user group; and 
 creating the doorbell user group comprising the first remote computing device and a second remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to the second doorbell but is not communicatively coupled to the first doorbell. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the doorbell system, an alert to the doorbell user group in response to a selection of a first button on the first remote computing device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of a video an image taken by the first doorbell, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first doorbell is coupled to a first building, and a remote sensor is configured to detect an unauthorized intrusion of the first building, the method further comprising sending an alert sent to the doorbell user group in response to the remote sensor detecting the unauthorized intrusion. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the alert comprises a visual media selected from the group consisting of a video an image taken by the first doorbell, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising sending an alert to members of the doorbell user group in response to detecting, by a remote burglar detection system, a burglary of the first building, wherein the alert comprises a visual media selected from the group consisting of a video an image taken by the first doorbell, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first remote computing device is not communicatively coupled to the second doorbell, the method further comprising receiving a second picture taken by the second doorbell in response to the second doorbell sending the second picture to a database configured to provide visitor information to the doorbell user group. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first doorbell is coupled to a first building, the second doorbell is coupled to a second building, and a third doorbell is coupled to a third building, the method further comprising analyzing information collected from the first doorbell, the second doorbell, and the third doorbell, and then sending an alert in response to facial recognition of the information, wherein the facial recognition is configured to detect a first visitor having visited the first building, the second building, and the third building. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending an alert to the first remote computing device and the second remote computing device in response to the first doorbell and the second doorbell providing the same information regarding a first visitor to the doorbell user group. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending an alert to the first remote computing device in response to identifying, by the doorbell system, abnormal behaviors correlated with crime. 
     
     
       11. A method of using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises a first remote computing device communicatively coupled to a first doorbell having a housing, a motion detector, a proximity sensor, a microphone, a speaker, a button, and first camera, the method comprising:
 creating a doorbell user group comprising the first remote computing device and a second remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to a second doorbell but is not communicatively coupled to the first doorbell; 
 taking a first picture, via the first camera of the first doorbell, of a first visitor; 
 sharing the first picture with the doorbell user group such that the second remote computing device receives the first picture; 
 sending the first picture to a database configured to provide information regarding the first visitor to the doorbell user group; and 
 recording comments regarding the first picture from the doorbell user group such that members of the doorbell user group can read the recording comments. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sending, in response to a selection of a first button on the first remote computing device, a communication to at least a portion of the doorbell user group,
 wherein the communication is configured to cause the first doorbell and the second doorbell to simultaneously perform an action selected from the group consisting of recording videos to capture evidence regarding an emergency situation in a neighborhood of the first doorbell and the second doorbell, emitting an alarm sound in response to the emergency situation, emitting lights in response to the emergency situation, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising recording comments regarding a visual media selected from the group consisting of the videos the first picture from the doorbell user group, and combinations thereof such that members of the doorbell user group can read the recording comments. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a first trait of the first visitor from the first remote computing device, and sharing the first picture of the first visitor with the doorbell user group in response to the first trait of the first visitor. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising indicating a first trait of the first visitor, wherein providing information regarding the first visitor to the doorbell user group includes the first trait of the first visitor. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 coupling the first doorbell to an exterior surface of a first building. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling the second doorbell to an exterior surface of a second building. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending an alert to the first remote computing device in response to analyzing a combination of the information and a database of past criminal activity in an area of the first building and the second building; and
 predicting, by the doorbell system based at least partially on an information source selected from the group consisting of the information, the database and combinations thereof, a likelihood of future criminal activity. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining, by the doorbell system based at least partially on the information and on a database of past criminal activity in an area of the first building and the second building a safety score of the area and sending the safety score to a third party in a manner configured to enable the third party to display a safety metric based at least partially on the safety score with real estate listings. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending an alert to the first remote computing device in response to determining a number of visits of a visitor to a group of buildings comprising the first building and the second building.